English, B.A.
The English program provides students with courses of study that will develop both academic and creative writing, an understanding of language, and a critical engagement with literature. To achieve these objectives, English majors are expected to develop and refine their writing abilities and critical understanding of language and literature through extensive reading and discussion.
All students who desire to major in English will be required to complete 28 upper-division credit hours of English courses approved by the department chair and demonstrate satisfactorily their possession of the basic skills of literary criticism and research through completion of ENG 225. After being accepted as English majors the students will, in consultation with their advisors, decide upon a program of studies best suited to their needs and interests, whether in preparation for teaching, advanced study, professional writing, or other vocations in which their liberal education may prove an asset. In their senior year, all English majors write a senior paper as a Capstone experience.
University Requirements - 39 hours
See Core Curriculum
College Requirements - 21-33 hours
See College Requirements BA
Degree Requirements
Major Requirements — 31 hours
ENG 225 | Introduction to Literary Studies | 3 |
Three Historical Survey courses— 9 credit hours, total:
One Medieval-to-18th-century course:
ENG 320 | Anglo-Saxon and Medieval Literature | 3 |
ENG 324 | Renaissance British Literature (1500-1660) | 3 |
ENG 325 | 18th Century British Literature | 3 |
One 19th-century course (from the list below), OR one more course from the list above:
ENG 344 | Romantic Literature 1785-1830 | 3 |
ENG 345 | Victorian Literature 1830-1900 | 3 |
ENG 354 | American Literature Beginnings -1865 | 3 |
ENG 355 | American Literature 1864-1914 | 3 |
One 20th-century course:
ENG 346 | Modern British Literature 1900-1945 | 3 |
ENG 347 | British Literature Since 1945 | 3 |
ENG 356 | American Literature 1914-1945 | 3 |
ENG 357 | American Literature 1945-Present | 3 |
Two 400-level English courses— 6 credit hours, total:
which may also take care of the below Genre or Topics course requirement; Education/English majors must take ED 410 as one of these courses
ENG 420 | Otherness in Early British Literature (1000-1700) | 3 |
ENG 430 | International Literature of Peace and Justice | 3 |
ENG 460 | Contemporary American Poetry | 3 |
ENG 461 | Oregon and Northwest Writers | 3 |
ENG 470 | City Life in American Literature | 3 |
ENG 471 | American Romanticism | 3 |
ENG 473 | African American Writers | 3 |
ENG 480 | Postcolonial Literature and Culture | 3 |
ENG 491
| Two one-time courses | 3 |
ENG 493, 497, and 499 do not count toward this requirement
Two genre or topics courses— 6 credit hours, total
includes 400-level courses and all 300-level courses not listed above
Two English elective courses— 6 credit hours, total
Capstone Project
For honors students, the Capstone must be 3 credit hours.
General Electives — 17-29 hours
Total Credit Hours: 120
Historical survey courses broadly approach the literature of historical periods studying the major genres in the context of their time and place. Genre/topic courses focus more narrowly on a single topic, genre, or author.
300-level courses: emphasize close readings of primary texts and introduce the critical conversation surrounding the course topic. 400-level courses: increase the amount and intensity of reading and writing, requiring students to enter the critical conversation through a guided research project.